Home Remedies for Dark Lips

They say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. And I believe that most beholders would agree that a beautiful face consists of big eyes, a thick nose and soft, pink lips.

A person can't really do much in the eyes and nose areas since you are born with them; however, you can work to get naturally soft, pink and beautiful lips. And I can surely say that no beholder would say 'No' to pink, plump lips.

Pink lips add a unique appeal and amplify your beauty. But not many individuals can say that they have a beautiful set of pink lips. Instead, most people suffer from hyperpigmentation that darkens their lips.

So, in this article, let's talk about the causes of hyperpigmentation and the natural ways to lighten dark lips.

Causes of Dark Lips

Usually, lip blackening or darkening happens due to hyperpigmentation.

A pigment named melanin is responsible for providing color to the skin. It means that people with lighter skin tone have less melanin and those with more melanin have a darker skin tone.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin starts generating excess melanin. Age spots are a typical example of hyperpigmentation.

Several factors can contribute to lip hyperpigmentation. The most common causes of dark lips include –

• Excessive Sun Exposure

Excessive sun exposure triggers the body to produce more melanin to absorb the ultraviolet radiations that can damage your skin. It is a significant factor in converting your lip color into a darker tone.

• Smoking Tobacco

Tobacco smoke contains chemicals like nicotine and benzpyrene that promote melanin formation that can darken your lips.

• Certain Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions and treatments like Addison's disease or chemotherapy can lead to skin hyperpigmentation and cause the darkening of lips and gums.

• Certain Medications

Certain medications, such as antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic and cytotoxic drugs, can cause lip hyperpigmentation.

• Pregnancy

Women undergo several changes, including hormonal changes during pregnancy. Due to hormonal changes, some women experience skin darkening, especially on the forehead, lips, cheeks, nose and nipples.

• Other Factors

Other factors that can contribute to lip dryness and hyperpigmentation are vitamin deficiency, dehydration, lip sucking, high caffeine consumption, allergic reaction to lip balm, lipsticks, etc.

Home Remedies for Dark Lips

Everyone wishes to have beautiful pink lips. But daily exposure to sun and pollution, lack of hydration, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, aging and certain lifestyle choices like cigarette smoking can badly affect the lips, resulting in dryness, chapping and discoloration. Nevertheless, the good news is it is totally possible to turn your dark lips pink again by undoing the damage that happened to them.

Here are the natural ways to lighten dark lips. These are some of the best remedies I have come across for dark lips over the years.

1. Drink plenty of Fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is the father of all home remedies for dark lips. Beautiful skin requires hydration, and lips are the first to appear dry and parched in cases of dehydration.

So, have enough fluids – water, lemonade, juices – throughout the day to keep your body hydrated.

2. Honey Scrub

The honey scrub is very effective in getting rid of dark lips and bringing back your lips' natural pink hue.

Combine one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of sugar to make this scrub. Gently rub it on your lips in small circular movements. The gentle exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells of your lips. Leave it on your lips for 2-3 minutes before rinsing it off. You can use this honey scrub once or twice a week to obtain desired results.

The honey enzymes help in lightening the hue of your lips. It also provides good moisturization to your lips.

Sugar gently exfoliates the lips and protects them from any damage caused by the sun. The glycolic acid present in sugar protects your lips from environmental toxins also.

3. Lemon for your Lips

People have been using lemon as a skin lightening home remedy for ages.

A study conducted in 2002 indicated that the peel of citrus fruits could act as a melanin inhibitor. In addition, lemon can exfoliate your lips and help eliminate dead skin cells.

You can apply lemon juice to your lips for a minute or two and wash with lukewarm water. Always remember to use lemon with care because its acidic contents can irritate your lips. The skin of your lips is the thinnest and most sensitive.

Another way to use lemon for your lips – dip a lemon wedge in sugar, rub the sugared lemon on your lips for a couple of minutes and then rinse it with lukewarm water.

4. Turmeric and Milk Paste

Turmeric is a widely acknowledged Ayurvedic ingredient known for its skin-lightening properties. Besides lightening melanin, it is also effective for treating dark pigmentation on the lips.

For using it as a dark lips home remedy, mix a tablespoon of milk with half a tablespoon of turmeric to prepare a paste. Apply this paste and leave it for a couple of minutes on your lips before cleaning them with water. Use a hydrating lip balm after applying the turmeric-milk paste to your lips.

5. Almond Oil Massage

Almond oil is a good source of vitamin E that helps with lips discoloration by balancing the melanin pigment.

Massaging almond oil on your lips boosts circulation and enhances the blood flow in the lip area. It also helps with lips dryness by moisturizing them.

Take a few drops of almond oil on your palm and gently rub it on your lips. Experts recommend almond oil massage at least once a day for getting naturally pink lips.

6. Beetroot Juice

Beetroot is a naturally highly pigmented vegetable that turns everything pink, making it the perfect choice for turning your lips pink.

The easiest way to use it is by rubbing a small beetroot slice on your lips. It helps remove lip hyperpigmentation and impart a pinkish-red hue.

Alternatively, you can mix beetroot juice with honey and apply it to your lips. It is one of the most effective home remedies for dark lips.

Takeaway

Lip discoloration or dark lips is a ubiquitous beauty problem that equally affects both males and females. In my opinion, rather than going for cosmetic treatments, such as face acids, chemical peels or laser treatments, a person should follow home remedies for getting pink lips and preventing discoloration.

Making a few tweaks in your lifestyle choices, eating healthy, nutritious foods, staying hydrated, and exfoliating and moisturizing your lips well is generally sufficient to remove lip hyperpigmentation. However, if the problem persists, you must consult a doctor.